To the editor:

What a perfect day for Emily’s event on Aug. 13 – the third annual Emily’s Fight, Donate Life 5K Walk/Run. A heartfelt thank you to the 200-plus participants that walked, ran, volunteered, cheered and supported the event. Emily’s heavenly spirit was with us as we gathered together to support her goal of raising awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation as well as to raise money for the Iowa Donor Network. Emily enjoyed her last 15 years of life because of the “gift of life.”

A special thank you to the fabulous volunteers that have come together throughout this past year to strategize a plan for a perfect event.

Thank you to the individuals that shared their stories about being a living donor to save another life. Thank you to the families that courageously shared their memories and recipient letters because their loved one saved another person’s life.

There were many people in the crowd that had a connection with organ, eye & tissue donation and that touched our hearts to have you be involved with Emily’s event.

This was our first year to reach out to sponsors and we appreciate their generous support. Gold Sponsors were Fitzgerald Welding and L&M. Silver Sponsors were All Iowa Construction Services, Cargill, and Champion Chrysler Center Inc. The Bronze Sponsors were Green Ag Inc., Josephson Manufacturing Co., Miller Trucking, and Valero Renewable Fuels Co. LLC.

We also had several businesses from the Manson, Fort Dodge and surrounding communities donate gifts for the raffle: Affiliated Foods Of Manson, Big Beeve’s Bar & Grill, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cubby’s, Craig’s Service, Creative Cakes, D & K Implement, Fitzgerald Welding, Fort 8 Theatre, Fort Frenzy, Harps Outlet Koozie, Home Spun Collection, Hy-Vee, Party Productions, Pizza Hut, Sassy Strawberry, Sheer Excitement, Shore Side Pub and Grub, Sneakers/Community Tap, Swanson Hardware, 2 Be Trendy, Wessels Oil, Wonder Nails, Alluvial Brewery, Prairie Moon Winery (Ames), ISU basketball and football.

Thank you to the Manson Journal Herald and The Messenger for the well-written articles supporting Emily’s event and to Mike Devine for allowing me to talk about the event on his morning talk show.

If you didn’t make it to the event this year, I hope that you will put it on your calendar next year; tentative date is Aug. 12. It is a magical, heartwarming event. You don’t have to be a runner or a walker; you can be a volunteer or someone who wants to share how the “gift of life” has touched you.

Always and forever grateful to Uncle Larry, Uncle Don and Emily’s heavenly angel for giving the “gift of fife.”

What a wonderful day and a honor to Emily and her life-long goal – Be a hero. Be an organ donor.

Submitted on behalf of the family of Emily Markert.

Liz Markert

Manson